Spartans Dominate Play but Fall to Stevenson in Overtime

Sep 11, 2010

YORK, PA – The York College women's soccer team suffered a
hard-to-swallow 1-0 overtime loss to Stevenson University in the
Capital Athletic Conference opener for both squads. The Mustangs
improve to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the CAC while the Spartans fall
to 0-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the league.

The final score was not even close to being indicative of the
Spartans' play during the day. They held the high-powered Stevenson
offense in check the entire contest until Mackenzie Calhoun found
the back of the net with 6:51 remaining in the first overtime.
Reigning CAC Player of the Year Stephanie Eyler earned the assist
on the game-winner as the Mustangs captured a win on a day when
they were not the better team on the pitch.

The Spartans outshot the Mustangs 8-1 in the opening 45 minutes
of play. The Green and White missed the goal high on four of those
first half shots as their accuracy continues to hamper them early
in 2010. The Spartans had a golden chance in the 30th
minute as Stephanie
Rice had a shot that just missed hitting the far right
post as the game went to the break scoreless.

If York dominated the first half, the second half was even more
impressive as the Spartans outshot the Mustangs 12-3 including a 15
minute barrage in which they had seven shots including a Lauren
Ward attempt in the 56th minute that sailed
just wide of the left post. Ward had another chance just a minute
later as Stephanie
Mergler gave her a great pass. Again, Ward's attempt
again sailed just wide.

The Mustangs' Kayla Curry kept the Spartans off the board in the
79th minute as she cleared a Rice shot off the line
after the Spartan junior beat the Mustang defense for what looked
like an open shot on goal. Curry's heroics eventually allowed the
visitors to capture the win.

The Spartans' final gasp in regulation came when Carly
Bock's shot from the top of the box just went wide
right as the Green and White couldn't get on the board for the
second straight contest.

Calhoun registered the game-winner when Eyler, for the first
time in the game, was able to make a play at the top of the box.
Eyler fed Calhoun and the freshman made her first goal a memorable
one as she beat Spartan goalie Sarah
Spanarkel to the far right post for the golden tally.
The Spartan defense did an outstanding job all day of
containing one of the most dangerous players in the CAC as Eyler
was held without a goal against York for the first time in the last
three meetings between the two teams.

The Green and White ended the game holding a 20-5 bulge in shots
and a 6-3 edge in shots in goal though that total doesn't give a
true indication of the Spartans' domination in the contest. A
number of Spartan attempts just missed being on target as the
number of quality chances were numerous throughout the contest.
York had a 4-1 edge in corner kicks while Stevenson registered 14
fouls to 11 for the hosts.

Brittany Ross secured the shutout for the Mustangs as she made
five saves in notching the clean sheet. Spanarkel played well as
she recorded two stops in her 93:09 of work.

The win is the Mustangs' fourth straight over the Spartans as
Stevenson now leads the all-time series 7-6.

York looks to break into the win column on Wednesday when they
host Dickinson College in a non-conference contest at Graham Field.
Kick off is slated for 4:30 pm.